The reason for an electoral win or loss is never singular in nature or without nuance and, highlighting one particular aspect may at a stretch be flirting at the edge of legitimate analysis.
However in a world where the 47th US president insists on inserting himself into the domestic politics of any country that catches his often momentary attention, it is possible that Trump will decide to take offence at the considered decisions taken by millions of Australian citizens on 3 May 2025.
Nationwide News, 4 May 2025, article excerpt:
Saturday’s landslide election win for Anthony Albanese is being viewed the same way around the world as two words are repeated over and over.
The result that saw Peter Dutton come face-to-face with the worst possible outcome — a resounding defeat and being ousted from his seat of Dickson — can be attributed at least in part to the “Anti-Trump” factor, according to media watching from afar.
“Dutton was seen by many as Australia’s Trump,” the BBC’s Tiffany Turnbull wrote.....
“(It) appeared to go down badly with voters, despite his attempts to shake off comparisons made between his policies on immigration, public sector cuts and China, and the Trump administration.”
CNN described the result in similar terms.
“Observers will be examining the results for signs of blowback against Australia’s conservative candidates from US President Trump’s whirlwind 100 days in office – after comparisons were drawn between Dutton’s policy offerings and those of the US leader,” the US broadcaster wrote.
CNN noted that Australia had appeared to follow Commonwealth compatriat Canada in pushing back against far-right politics.
“Another center-left prime minister, Mark Carney of Canada — which like Australia is a G20 nation, as well as US ally — recently scored an election win widely chalked up to anti-Trump sentiment.”
The Washington Post described the win for Labor as “buoyed by anti-Trump bump”.
The New York Post took a similar view of the Trump link to Australia’s election result.
“Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor Party was projected to win elections, broadcasters said on Saturday, in a comeback against once-resurgent conservatives powered by concerns about the influence of US President Donald Trump.”
The New York Times cited Trump’s tariff war as a key factor in the way Aussies had voted Saturday.
“A superpower loomed large as Australians headed to the polls. It wielded trade barriers as a means of political coercion, imperiling Australia’s export-dependent economy,” the Times wrote.
“Three years ago that country was China, which had imposed punishing restrictions on many Australian exports, sent spy ships lurking near Australia’s west coast and struck an alarming military pact with a regional neighbor, the Solomon Islands.
“This time, as Australians cast ballots on Saturday, that external factor is the United States and President Trump.”.....
The Guardian, 4 May 2025, article excerpt:
Australian PM shrugs off questions about Donald Trump as other world leaders congratulate him
Anthony Albanese says his job is to “represent Australia’s national interest” after his thumping election win, shrugging off questions about when he might visit the United States to speak to Donald Trump about tariffs and trade.
The re-elected prime minister said he had spoken to the leaders of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, France and the UK, and looked forward to calls with the presidents of Indonesia and Ukraine.
“My job here is to represent Australia’s national interest and that’s what I’ll be doing, and the first thing I’ll be doing is going to Canberra,” he said......
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| Could I have your attention Mark Knight |
